Necessity is the mother of invention...

It is official. House sold. Contracts unconditional. Employers notified. Homeless and jobless as of June 24, 2011. My heart rate seems to be slightly higher than usual. Not sure if that's excitement or fear yet. Too busy packing up to reflect.
It is occurring to me as I pack up hundreds of belongings (or should that be ownings?) that not many of them are really that necessary. I am functioning quite well in a kitchen with perhaps only one tenth of the paraphernalia that I did have. Every time I reach for a utensil or item no longer available, I wonder why I had it in the first place and then begin the happy task of inventing a new piece of equipment from what is left. A bowl and saucer now doubles as every microwavable container, the lid on the saucepan drains just as well as a colander... and why did I have more than 10 different wooden spoons?? Of course some of the stuff we accumulate makes life a little easier... but very little of it is necessary.
I guess that's one of the reasons we are embarking on this adventure. An exercise in living simply. Remembering what is essential in life and appreciating all the extras.

and so it begins...

The call came through. The appointment has been made. 11am tomorrow might be the day we sell our house and embark on an adventure we've been promising ourselves for years. It's a strange mix of excitement, anticipation, fear and a fair bit of anxiety that I'm feeling (especially when I think of the coming six weeks - packing, planning, moving and somehow convincing our two gorgeous girls that packing up their most loved possessions and living in a tent for 3 months is going to be great!).
Stay tuned... I have no idea how this adventure will unfold.